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Herbal medicine in the modern age: The era of personalized precision

Muhammad Shahzad Aslam, Yun Jin Kim   

  1. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiamen University Malaysia, Sepang, Selangor 43900, Malaysia
  • Received:2024-05-28 Accepted:2025-01-31 Online:2025-08-25 Published:2025-08-25
  • Contact: Yun Jin Kim, PhD; E-mail address: yjkim@xmu.edu.my

This perspective review explores the transformative potential of personalized herbal medicine, examines the integration of ancient herbal knowledge with modern personalized medicine, delves into the principles of personalized medicine particularly in the context of herbal treatments, and investigates the principles of personalized medicine and elucidates how they are being applied to herbal medicine. It emphasizes the individualized nature of this approach and how it is facilitated through genetic analysis and health profiling. This review also highlights key advancements in herbal medicine, such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) analysis and bioinformatics, and their role in the development of precise and personalized herbal remedies. The outcomes of personalized herbal medicine reveal how genetic variations are being considered to tailor treatments, create target-specific therapies, and customize dosage regimens. Furthermore, this review illustrates the evolution of herbal medicine with technological advancements, particularly DNA analysis and bioinformatics, to enhance precision and personalization. The challenge associated with implementing personalized herbal medicine more broadly includes issues of accessibility, regulation, education and ethics. It underscores the transformative potential of personalized herbal medicine. It calls for continued exploration, research and collaboration in this burgeoning field. This uncharted territory invites researchers, practitioners and stakeholders to embark on a journey towards an era of healthcare characterized by tailored, effective and patient-centric approaches

Key words: Herbal medicine, Personalized medicine, Precision medicine, Integrative medicine, Review

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